Synchronous telegraph system



June 16, 1931. H. ANGEL ETAL SYNGHRONOS TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Filed Nov. 5, Y1929 lnventor wel @/ro'vxm Gttorneg Patented June. 16, 1931 UNITED STATES. Parra-Ni" oFFIcE HERBERT ANGEL AND JAMES W. ROBINSON, OF BROOKLYN, EV YORK, ASSIGNORS TO s THE WESTERN UNION TELEGRlPI-I OOMANY, OF NEW YORK, Il'. Y., A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK SFNCERONOUS TELEGRAPH SYSTEM Application filed November 5, 1929. Serial No. 405,940.V

This invention relates to telegraph systems and particularly to anl apparatus for repeating telegraph impulses received from two or more cables into onecable -or line.

g5 This invention has utility in connection with ocean cables, land lines and radio Cir` cuits which are operated by means of synchronous apparatus. but is especially adapted for ocean cables having high electrostatic capacity over which the signal impulses become distorted and shift from proper position in the impulse interval.

To those familiarwith the art ofoperating ocean cables with synchronous apparatus, especially with cables of the nonloaded type, it will be understood that in repeating impulses from two cables into one the receiving distributor may be thrown out of synchronism unless the inherent phase shift of the impulses is eliminated before passing the impulses from the two cables into the combining or channeling distributor which is to channel them into the lnext circuit7 and that no matter how similar two cables may be in their electrical construction, the impulses from the cables will differin phase. Infprior systems of repeating impulses from two cables into one or vice versa no provision has been made for nullifying the disastrous effect of the shifting in phase of the impulses so that the impulses fromv both cables may be used for correctingthe combining distributor. That is to say7 impulses from one cable shift in one direction and the impulses from the other cable shift in another direction, or both in the same direction, resulting in improper operation of the correcting mechanism of the combining distributor. Y

Accordingly7 the main object of this inventionis to provide a system in which the inherent phase shift of the impulses is taken care of so that the impulses from each cable will be passed into the combining or channelingdistributor practically freeY of impulse shift. f

In accordance with the present invention, the regenerated impulses from both cables are employed for correcting purposes so that u if one cable should become interrupted by signal distortion, unbalance, lightning or other causes, impulses from the other cable will automatically maintain thesecondary or channeling distributor in synchronismfwhile the interrupted cable is being adjusted., In the prior art, one cable has been used for correcting purposes and it is obvious that Y ondary or channeling distributor by the im-v pulsesfrom both cables and prevents the secondary distributor from falling out Yof synchronism ywhen one of the two cables becomes interrupted. A i 1 Y i In carrying out the present invention there are employed as many primary. receiving rings, primary correcting rings and primary correcting el'ements as there are cables to be received from. Thus, if two cables are to be received from, there will be provided two primary receiving rings, two primary correcting rings and two primary correcting elements which in turn operate into a secondary piece of apparatus consisting of a receiving ring or rings withas many pick up and correcting segments as th'ere are segments .in the primary ring, but only one correcting element. The various features and objects of the invention will be more fully understood upon reference to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying-drawing, whilethe scope of the invention will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Y In the drawing the Ysingle figure is a diagrammatic illustration of the inventionv as applied to two cables. i

The distributor rings are shown developed in the drawing for the purpose of clearly illustrating the electrical connections to all Y stood that the invention is equally applicable to more than two cables.

Referring to the drawing, and 10A are the two cables over which impulses are transmitted and 11 is the line into which the impulses from `the cables 10 and 10AV are -to be repeated. At the transmitting end'the cable 10 is provided with a transmitter 1-2 and the cable 10A is provided with a transmitter 12A. Although in theY drawing the transmitters have been shown diagrammatically as being of the tape-controlled type, it is obvious that any standard type of transmitters may be employed provided they are driven at exactly the same speed.

At the Yreceiving 'end three ldistributors are provided; namely, a primaryA distributor 13 l for the cable 10, aprimary distributor 13A for the cable 10A anda secondary distributoi l14 for channelingthe impulses from the ytwo primary distributors into the line 11. The primary distributor 13 comprises a segmented 'ring 1'5 andl a Vsolid ring 16 'bridged by a pair of brushes 17. The pri- `mary distributor 13A^comprises a segmented ring 15A land aV solid ring 16A bridged by a pair-'of brushes 17A. The secondary distributor 14 comprises a segmented ring 18 and a solid ring 19 Abridged by brushes 20, al segmented, ring 21 and a lsolid ring 22 bridged by lbrushes 23 anda segmented ring 24 and a *solid ring 25 bridged by brushes 26. 'All ofthe Ybrushes 17,'-17A,20, 23 and 26 are arranged tooperate at the same speed ,and the Vdistributors are so oriented with respect to each other lthat all ofthe brushes will be on No. 1 segment at the same time and will maintain Ythis phase relation continuously.

At the receiving end,cable 10 is connected with a main cable relay 29 the 'armature k30 of which operates between contacts 31 and 32 to extend positive or negative 'impulses over the conductor 33 lto the winding of a local cable vrelay 34. The armature 35 of the latter relay operates between contacts 36 and 37 to extend positivejor negative impulses over the conductor :3S-to the winding of a regenerating relay 39 and through the said winding to the segments;1,2, 3 and 4 of'ring 15 of primary distributor 13 The Vring 15 is provided with additional seg- Yis connected with the armature-i6 of the relay 40. The armature `46operates be tween contact 47 'connected with positive on Ithe Vring 18.

battery and contact 48 connected with negative battery.

The movable switch arm 49, which is arranged to coopei'ate either with Contact 44 or contact 45, is connected by a conductor 50 with the segments 1, 2,3'and 4 of Va ring 18 which forms part ofthe secondary distributor 14.A The ring 18 has in addition to the segments mentioned, four othersegments 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A disposed intermediate the segments 1, 2, 3 and 4, respectively.

As the brush wipes over the segments 1, 2,3 and 4 impulses from the primary distributor 13 are transmitted over the conductor 50, segment 1, 2', 3 or 4, brush 20, ring 19 and through-the winding of a channeling relay 51 to ground. Energization of channeling relay 51 operates its larmature '52 into engagement with contact 53 or contact '54 to transmit afpositiv'e or .negative impulseover'the line 11. l

When an impulse 'is transmitted over the conductor l it affects not only the channeling relay 51, but also the synchronizing' relay 55 which is connected to the conductor 50 as shown. Energization ofsynchronizing relay 55 operates its armature 56 into engagement withA contact vor contact 58 in accordance with'the polarity ofthe impulse received. i. i i i lVhenever a negati-ve impulse is transmitted over the conductor 50, relay 55 moves its armature 56 into'engagement with contact 58. If brush 26 is at this timeV on a correcting segment 1., 2, 3v or 4,condenser'- 59 charges over the line v60, ring 25, brush 26, the segment with which brush 26 is en- -gaged,and then through resistance 61 and thewinding of the mechanical corrector 62,

causing -thelatter-t'o shift the distributor 4brushes intojproper phase withV Athe signal limpulses. On the other hand,`if the brush 26 is at this time onone of the intermediate non-correcting segments, the circuit extends lthrough resistance63 to negative battery:

and thecondenser is charged. lVheu a positive impulse is'extended over the'conductor 50, relay 55 moves its armature 56 into engagementwith Contact 57, andthe Vcondenser `is discharged. Y VThe cable 10A has at itsi'eceiving end apparatus and circuit connections'which' are a duplicate of the apparatus and circuitconnections Just described in connection with cable 10. The-elements associated with cable V10A have been giventhe'same reference numerals as the corresponding-elements sociated with the cable 10, but with the addition ofthe letter- From the switch arm'49A--connection is made with the segmentslA, 2A, 3A and 4A These` rse'gnfients are farranged intermediatethe-segments 1, 2, 3 4and 4', respectively,of 1thering`18. As the-brush "20 wipes over the-ring18 it bridges the `segceive impulses from the two cables at exactly the same moment, in which case the lregenerated impulses from the primary distributors would be repeated into the secondary vdistributor at the same moment and confusion of the impulses would result. In

order to prevent this condition, the switches 49 and 49A have been provided so that the impulses from the primary distributors will be repeated into the secondary distributor in alternation.

In thev following description it will beV assumed that the brushes ot' the distributors Vare all on segment 1 and that when the brushes are so positioned, a negative impulse is transmitted from transmitter 12 over the cable 10 and a positive impulse is transmitted from the transmitter 12A over the cable 10A. The distributors 13, 13A andl 14 are being driven at the'same speed' as by means of the well known vibrating fork apparatus Jfor driving multiple phonic wheel distributors or by three forks vibrating at the same speed. Y

As'the negative impulse is received ove the cable 10, the relay 29 moves its armature 3() into engagement with contact 32,

connecting negative battery over conductor 33, to the winding of the local cable relay 34 and ground. Armature 35 moves into engagement with contact 37, closing a circuit from negative` battery over conductor 38 and through the winding ofthe regenerating relay 39 to the segments l, 2, 3 and 4 of ring 15, of the 1li-channel distributor,

Vover the segment 1, brush V17 and solid ring 16 to ground. Armature 41 of relay 39 moves into engagement with contact 43, connecting'negative battery through contact 44, and switch arm 49 to the segments 1, 2, 3 and 4 or" ring 18 of the channeling distributor and over segment 1, brush 20, ring 19 and through the winding of the channeling relay 51 to ground. Relay 51 moves its armat-ure 52 into engagement with contact 54, and transmits a negative impulse'into the line or cable 11. Y f

The positive impulse coming in over the cable 10A energizes the cable relay 29A and movesV its armature A into engagement with contact 31A, which transmits a positive impulse from battery through the vwinding of the local cable relay 34A. Armature 35A moves into engagement with contact 36A, sending a positive impulse over conductor 38A, through the winding of theVY brush 17A and ring 16A of the B-channel distributor to ground. 'Armature 41A moves into engagement with contact 42A, but produces no effect on relay 40A since at this instant the brush 17A is on segment 1.

When the brushes 17, 17A and 20- reach the segment 1A on their respective rings, the circuit for the winding of relay 40A, which was previously prepared'by the relay 39A, is completed. positive battery over contact 42A, armature 41A, the winding of relay 40A, and over segment 1A of ring 15A, brush 17A and solid ring 16A to ground. Armature 46A moves into engagement lwith its contact 47A, closing a circuit from positive battery over contact A, switch arm 49A, segment 1A of ring 18, brush 20, ring 19 and winding of channeling relay 51 to ground, causing armature 52 to engage contact 53, and transmit a 'positive impulse linto the line or cable 11.

ln a similar manner impulses from the cable 10 will be repeated into-the line 11 when the brushes wipe over the segments 1, 2, 3 and 4 ottheir respective rings and impulses from the cable 10A will `be repeated into the line 11 -when the brushes wipe over the segments 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A of their respective rings. Vhen the regenerative relay 39 operated in response to the negative impulse received over the cable 10, a circuit was completed for the synchronizing relay 55, this circuit extending from negative battery over contact 43, armature 41 of relay 39, contact 44, switch arm 49 and through the winding of synchronizing relay 55 to ground. Armature 56 moved into engagement with contact 58 and charged condenser 59 over the conductor. 60, ring 25, brush 26, segment 1 of ring 24, resistance 61 and the winding of the mechanical corrector 62, causing the lat- This circuit extends from ter tocorrect the phaseposition of the disi tributor'brushes in the well known manner.

When the regenerative relay 40A operated in response tothe positive impulse received over the cable 10A, a circuit was completed for the synchronizing relay 55A, this circuit extending from positive battery over Contact 3 i 47A, armature 46A, contact 45A, switch arm 49A`and through the winding of the synchronizing relay 55AV to ground, causing armature 56A to kmove into engagement with contact 57A.

It will thus be seen that by the use of two primary distributors anda single secondary or channeling distributor, impulses received over the two cables l() and 10A are regenerated and repeated into the line 11. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the regenerated impulses from the primary distributors are practically-the same as v'the original transmitted impulses and therefore the'impulses transmitted into the secondary distributor are practically the same as local impulses free of any abnormalshitt;V

Y The primary distributors 13 and 13A are arranged in conjunction with the associated relays and switches so that the regenerated impulses from these distributors may be repeated into the secondary or channeling dis-V tributor 14 in proper sequence and this sequence will be maintained whether the impulses coming in over the two cables arrive simultaneously or not. The switches 49 and 49A determine the sequence of operation of the two primary distributors. lVith the switches in the position shownin the drawing, impulses are received by the relay 39 when the brush 17 is on the segments 1, 2, 3 and 4' and these impulses are repeated over the ine 50to the secondary distributor 14 andimpulscs are received by the relay 40Ak when the brush 17A is on segment 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A, and these impulses arerepeated by the relay 40AY over the line 50Avto the secondary distributor 14.` It Afollows from this that the impulses et the `B-cliannel repeated by the primary distributor 13A, lag

Vbehind the impulses ot the A-cliannel repeated bythe primary distributor 13.

i In order toniake the primary distributor 13 lag behind the primary distributor 13A, the switch 49 must be thrown into engagement with contact 45 and the switch 49A must be thrown into engagement with contact 44A. With the switches so positioned, relay 39A will be energized wheneverbrush 17A is on a segment 1, 2, 3 or V4, to'repeat an impulse over theline OAto secondary distributor 14 and `relay 4() will be energized whenever brush 17 is on a segment 1A, 2A, 3A or 4A to repeat impulses over1 the line 50 to the secondary distributor 14. Thus the impulses from the distributor 13 will lag behind the impulses from'Y the distributor v14. Y i

'It is obvious that numerous changesmay be made in the details set forth without departure from the essentials ot the invention as defined in the following claims.

I/Velclaim: e

1. In a telegraph system, two cables over which impulses are transmitted, a primary distributor at the receiving endof each of said cables, and means orrepeating impulses alternately trom said distributors Y over a single line, said means embodying a f Ul single correcting element controlled by any phase shifts of the received impulses over Vboth of saidy cables.V

2. In a telegraph system, two cables over which impulses are transmitted, a primary distributor at the receiving end of each of said cables, and a secondary distributor for repeating impulses alternately from said primary distributors over a single line, said primary distributors and said secondary dis-Y tributer being operated in synchronism with each other and a single correcting v.element for `fixing the phase relation of the secondary element with respect 4to the impulses vreceived thereby.v f

3. In a telegraph system, two cables over caused to lag .behind the other primary dis tributor. Y n

4. In a telegraph system, a receiving distributor apparatus yi'or receiving impulses from twoy or more cables for being channeled or `repeated into another.cableor line, f

said receiving distributor apparatus `comprising a primary receiving element yfor cach cable over which impulses are received, and a singleV secondary element cooperating with all of said primary receiving elements for repeating impulses over the single cable, and a single correcting. element for fixing `the phase relation of the secondary element with respect to the impulses received thereby. Y f

5. In a system'for repeating impulsesfrom a plurality of cables into a single cable,.the method which comprises utilizing Vthe gimpulses received from all of the cables for correcting the phase Yrelation between the '.i 'received impulses and the transmitted impulses.

6. The method of repeating impulses from a plurality of cables into a single other cable which comprises repeating an impulse from j,

one cable of said-plurality of cables into said single cable, simultaneously preparing a circuit for the repetition of an impulse from another Vcable of said` plurality of cables into said single cable, subsequently transmitting an impulse over the prepared circuit into said single cable, andutilizing the impulses from alll ofrsaid cables for correcting the phase relation between the transinittedl impulsesfand the received impulses.

7. r)lie Vmethod of channeling vimpulses from two cables into a single line which comprises repeating an impulse from one ofl said cables into said single line,rsubse quently repeating an impulse tromthe other of said cables into saidsingle line and correcting the phase relation bet-Ween the transmitted impulse and the received impulse during each repeating operation.

8. In a telegraph system, two cables, a

primarydistributorat the receiving end-of each of said cables, a secondary distributor cooperating withboth of said .primary distributors Vtor repeating impulses over a siiigle line, a synchronizing relay associated.-

Y 7@ which impulses are transmitted, a primary l with each primary distributor `:incl controlled thereby and a single mechanical phase corrector controlled by both of said synchronizing relays.

In testimony whereof We aliix our signatures.

HERBERT ANGEL. JAMES W. ROBINSON. 

